Volleyball teams marks eighth away win of the season against Midland, 3-1

Junior outside hitter Kya Scott (13) tries to help junior setter Lily Psencik (32) achieve a dig.

Photo credit: Josiah Seabaugh

By Isaac Dawson

Concordia volleyball’s last regular season game recorded a 3-1 win Tuesday evening against the No. 22 Midland University Warriors in Fremont to seize the second-place seed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament.

This win marks the first time the volleyball program has gone 8-0 on away games in a conference season and the first time the team has taken 15 GPAC matches overall.

Their record was in jeopardy as ranked Midland threatened to run away with the game after taking a tight first set, but the Bulldogs steadily improved their defense to match the Warriors and fight close battles in each set.

Kicking off the game, Midland quickly took control with strong attacks from Warriors Abbey Ringler and Lauren Jones. The Bulldogs managed to capitalize on some well-timed kills by sophomore Ella Waters and junior Ashley Keck. The first set saw the lead jump back and forth several times, but Concordia eventually pulled ahead. Midland managed to rally after a timeout, starting a point streak with a block, and closing out the set at 25-22.

The second set started with the Bulldogs quickly recovering from the loss, taking advantage of Midland’s errors. A notable service ace from junior Kya Scott helped Concordia regain momentum. Both teams battled hard, but Concordia’s offensive attack, led by Keck and Waters, became too much for Midland to handle. A crucial stretch with several kills and attacks that the Warriors couldn’t quite block helped the Bulldogs turn the tables and win 25-22.

Concordia barely stayed ahead in the third, beating the Warriors by almost nothing after losing a five-point lead in the beginning of the set. Decisive action got Keck into the right place at the right time for eight kills in that set alone, taking the 25-22 win to give the Bulldogs the set advantage at 2-1.

In the final set, the intensity reached its peak. Concordia opened strong, and the early part of the set saw several back-and-forth rallies. Key contributions came from Kya Scott and Ella Waters, who displayed excellent offensive and defensive play. Scott took four kills and Waters put up a block and gave the Bulldogs match point with a kill, followed by a service ace from Shelburne to finish the game.

The Bulldogs’ service aces and effective blocking kept them ahead for most of the set, but Midland was hungry for a win. Clutch kills from the Warriors’ offense kept pressure on Concordia, but they held firm and sealed the set with 25-22, securing the match with a 3-1 win.

Keck led Concordia with 17 kills, while Scott added 12 kills. Senior Becca Gebhardt proved a valuable defensive player with 13 digs, with junior Savannah Shelburne close behind with 12. Concordia posted a .192 hitting percentage, while the Warriors had .112.

On defense, Concordia had 76 digs to Midland’s 67. Keck, senior Cassidy Knust, Gebhardt, and Shelburne each pulled off double-digit digs, getting 10, 11, 13, and 12 respectively. Shelburne and junior Lily Psencik together went for 44 assists. Shelburne added three service aces as well, the same number as the match against Hastings.

Concordia’s record now stands at 22-2 overall, and 15-1 in the GPAC. Maintaining their second-place rank in the GPAC and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Bulldogs now look ahead to the GPAC semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 9 against Dakota Wesleyan in Friedrich Arena.